preserving brass

[Art Ebeling]

What do you recommend for polishing and preserving brass parts such as firewall brackets, coilbox latches etc? Art

[Steve Jelf]

What kind of oil? Which band linings? MMM?

This is one of those questions that will always get lots of differing opinions. Here's mine. There are several polishes that do a good job. The one I use is Mother's. It's effective, ubiquitous, and much less expensive than some of the others. When I was in the army over fifty years ago we all used Brasso, but what's sold under that name today is not the same, and I don't recommend it.

[Burger in Spokane]

Steve nailed it. There are a few subjects no one agrees on.

Personally, I think polished brass looks silly, like brass railings and potted ferns ...
I think 100-year-old unpolished brass with that ultimate "mellow" is the best look
there is for brass. Besides, who wants to babysit that monster of a job ? But I
prefer a natural look on most anything. Just my personal taste. I want it to look
old.

If I had to polish some brass for some reason, I would consult a metal finishing shop
and ask what they use. It probably is better than anything off the shelf at the drug
store, and probably less expensive too.

[Original Smith]

Use the brass lamp covers that Langs sells. That way you only need to shine your brass twice a year.

[BHarper]

For Burger

[Steve Jelf]

Along the lines of Larry's suggestion, there is anti-tarnish fabric you can use to make brass covers that will preserve the shine. You'll still need to polish, of course, but not as often.

[Rich Bingham]

FYI - the "magic" cloth for lamp covers is called "Pacific Cloth".
Maybe Art is asking how to deal with small, "un-polish-able" details like coil box latches and the like ? I like "Blue Magic". Perhaps my experience has less to do with the product than our high 'n' dry southeast Idaho climate, but once polished, brass stays "pretty" for a long time, going from nearly white to mellow yellow in two years' time.

In tight places with small details like the coil box latches and lamp door catches, I use a soft tooth brush. It only takes a very small amount of "Blue Magic" to polish. I find the dry, white "slobbers" left behind from over polishing or waxing far more objectionable than tarnish. I don't mind polishing brass, I'll hit the radiator and the headlamps once a year or so . . . I even wash "Lizzie" once a year - or so - whether she needs it or not !

[Ruxstel24]

I use Blue Magic also Rich, on aluminum though.
Similar to Mothers paste, but a little thinner and smells like ammonia. Protects pretty good too.
Works great mixed with a little elbow grease !!

[Art Ebeling]

Thanks for the responses. As I was typing my question I did think about this being like a"what weight oil" or "mystery oil" question. I did mean for my question to be about preserving the cleaned finish on the smaller latches, brackets, etc. Art

[Rich Bingham]

Art, perhaps where this is heading is to ask whether polished brass can be coated to preserve the shine without the need to polish. The consensus is that while a number of coatings may serve that function, the inevitability of having to remove them makes them not worth the trouble. I concur.